January Connection 2021

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JANUARY 2021

Winter Wonderful CONQUER THE BLUES

Retreat at Parks

VISIT YOUR FAVORITES

Weightloss Journeys TALE OF TWO SISTERS

Work It Good

EXCERCISE FOR HAPPINESS

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Editorial

Running From 2020…

Diving Into

H

ave you ever heard the saying “If you don’t look at it, it doesn’t exist”? I believe that is how many of us feel about the year 2020. Many of us have experienced more in the short 12 months of 2020 than many have in their entire lifetime. There has been so much negative and the negative is what we hear about—it’s what stands out. The pandemic, the election, and the upheaval between people that has caused so much disruption.

That is what we hear every day, every minute, especially if you are in the line of business that I am in.

Positivity just does not get a headline very often during a year like we have just experienced, but believe it or not, we have had some. Nationwide I cannot name it all, but locally we have had those that did not think they were going to survive the virus, but they pulled through and lived to see another day.

We have seen people helping others in ways that they have not helped before.

Miracle babies have been born to mothers with COVID, but the young newborns are virus free.

Friends become new friends of others because someone needed help. I am not just talking about delivering groceries or running errands, but people have found friends that will listen to them talk. We have experienced loneliness this year like we have not experienced in quite some time because of all of the quarantines, and people get mentally lonely; they need to talk, to vent.

Let’s face it, it has just been different all year long.

I hope and pray that with the upcoming vaccine that 2021 will show the positive changes that will make a difference in our lives and will make the negativity of 2020 something that we can learn from and carry with us into our future and realize that even though it was bad, we still have many things to be thankful for.

4 | January 2021

We have no choice, it happened, and we have to carry on and now we have the opportunity to make a fresh start, with a new year.

One big lesson for me is: we, as a country, are not infallible. I grew up always thinking that either I was safe where I lived or that my dad could fix any situation. Well, my dad passed in 1989, and now we have a pandemic, so neither one are true. We have to be strong, sensible, and realize that with faith and thankfulness, we can wake up the next day with our health and what a blessing that is.

We have to be positive about this new year and pray that God has given the scientists the equipment and knowledge to spread the vaccine to control the dreaded disease, which I also pray they eventually will with other diseases as well, but those are not contagious pandemics. I don’t mean to ramble, but who would have thought we would have experienced something like this… I know I never thought I would live through the millennium, let alone something this crazy.

My best wishes to all of our readers for a strong and wonderful 2021 where we can live more normally and will continue being able to see the positive side of living no matter what is happening around us.

Happy New Year!

Lisa Craft

General Manager, Connection Magazine Lisa Craft is General Manager of Connection Magazine, The Monett Times and Cassville Democrat.

She can be reached at monettcommunity@gmail.com or connection@monett-times.com

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J A N U A R Y 2021

F

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U

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10 | FASHION REWIND

Who says our best fashion days are ahead of us? Lacey Elkins of Cassville relies on timeless trends of earlier eras to set the trend

20 | A TALE OF TWO

WEIGHTLOSS JOURNEYS

Sisters set forth together to improve health and lose weight

26 | THE BUDDY SYSTEM

Exercising with friends has its perks. Find out ways to stay connected and stay healthy

30 | JUST HYGGE

Do as the Nordics do this January and beat the winter quarantine blues

34 | PARKS ARE FOR EVERYONE (INCLUDING PUPS)

Get in full swing in 2021 with access to your local parks systems

46 | RAY OF LIGHT

Pastor Raymond Haught encourages goodwill at Tyson Foods in Monett

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

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JANUARY 2021

Winter Wonderful CONQUER THE BLUES

Retreat at Parks

VISIT YOUR FAVORITES

Weightloss Journies TALE OF TWO SISTERS

Work It Good

EXCERCISE FOR HAPPINESS

Brand New

PROSPECTS A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

ON THE COVER:

From the 1920s to the 2020s, Lacey Elkins brings fashion into this era from those eras long ago.

Read more on page 10.

CONTENTS Being active in the community and the Monett Ministerial Alliance, Pastor Ray helps where he can throughout Monett. The Monett Tyson Foods Plant employs 5,700 workers who do their part to keep Americans fed.

Read more about Pastor Ray on page 46.

17 Parenting Column: New Bucket List 19 Cutest Kid

25 Healthy Connection: Pandemic Portions 38 Cutest Pet

39 Rescued, My Favorite Breed Make 2021 the year you get healthier. This issue of Connection focuses on a healthier new you by featuring those in the community that are setting the trend for a healthy mind and body. Take note and be your own trend setter for a better new year.

Read more about where how to work out on page 26.

8 | January 2021

41 Recipes

47 Familiar Faces 50 Parting Shot

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Lacey Elkins, not only wears vintage fashion outside her home, she loves many authentic items from decades past. From her accessories like her hair pieces to her fashioned decor items.

The girl who dresses up 10 | January 2021

Stepping into 2021 with fashion from eras long past

W

hat is fashion?

What is style?

What do you wear to show your personality and interests? What do people think of you when they see you?

Meet a woman who brings fashion from years long gone into the 2020s.

Lacey Elkins, a 26-year-old resident of Cassville, said she believes fashion is open to interpretation for the individual.

“Fashion eventually always repeats itself,” she said. “What I’m doing is not an authentic historical recreation — it’s merely inspired recreation.”

Lacey said she takes a picture of an individual from a specific era, studies it, and then attempts to find pieces of clothing that she can use to copy that look.

Story by Jordan Troutman

“The fifties is done a lot like this,” she said. “Only most call it rockabilly style.

“In fashion, if you don’t get a look right the first time, you try again. Fashion is not permanent, you can change it by the day.”

Lacey was born and raised in this area, graduating from Cassville High School in 2012.

“I like Cassville,” she said. “I love the history, I love the Lifetime of Memories and the Barry County Museum. I don’t see myself moving away anytime soon.”

In her Junior year of high school, a friend asked Lacey to watch the Notebook.

“I loved the love story, but more than that I loved the outfits,” she said. “It was set in the ’40s and I found myself studying the outfits.”

Shortly after she began talking to her mother about clothes shopping and her mother suggested going to thrift stores.

Lacey Elkins loves to dress in the ’40s and ’50s fashions and feels her best in her creations and those headpiece creations of her friend Caleb Carpenter.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 11

“Fashion itself is an art form, you find inspirations and you improvise.”

“I noticed that I was interested in the clothes people would call ‘old,’” she said. “So I bought them, and I reinvented them.

“I was nervous about dressing up in high school, but eventually I started to not care because I liked it.”

Lacey fell in love with the ‘40s and ‘50s style.

“It is still my favorite, I wear it a lot,” she said. “I like that it is easy to emulate. I stayed with that style for a while after high school.”

About three years ago, Lacey was reading a comic book about Buster Keaton.

“I noticed the flapper girls in them as the female roles,” she said. “I thought it was a fun style and started to experiment with that era.”

12 | January 2021

Lacey experimented with flapper girl outfits for about six months, but she felt like she just couldn’t get it right.

“I even cut my hair short because that was the style then,” she said. “I really started to get into the movies of that time.”

Eventually, Lacey went back to her ‘40s and ‘50s style, but she still dresses up in the ‘20s about once or twice a week.

“When I go out in flapper fashion, people don’t get it or understand it,” she said. “People have this cliche notion of the ‘20s, but they don’t always see the realities of it.”

When Lacey goes out dressed in ‘50s attire, people recognize it.

“Dressing in the ‘20s is more of a challenge in that sense than others,” she said.

Lacey said there is more to experiencing an era than by just the fashion.

“I think it is important to be exposed to the music and movies too,” she said.

“It is not just dressing up, I like to study it a bit too. But, it is for fun.”

Lacey dresses up in fashions from decades past because she enjoys it “I don’t obsess over it or spend hours planning,” she said. “I get inspired and I put something together.

“I don’t do it to get pointed out in public, I do it because it makes me happy.”

As far as her skill level, Lacey said she started out as an amateur.

“I started slow, my first outfit I wore to school was a black dress with polka dots,” she said. “I cut a bow from another dress and I couldn’t even sew then, so I hot glued the bow to the dress.

“It was my first creation. I remember being so nervous, but eventually, it just became normal for me.”

Lacey was soon recognized by her peers for her outfits.

“I won best dressed my senior year in high school,” she said. “I grew with my makeup and other skills, I am not at an expert level, but again it is all for fun.”

With trial and error Lacy finds the outfits and ideas that work, and the ones that don’t.

“Everything is an experiment,” she said. “I put my hair in foam rollers for the first time to see if it worked.

“Fashion itself is an art form, you find inspirations and you improvise.”

While some people may think that when Lacey is dressed up she is performing as an alter ego, she said that is not the case.

“It is just me,” she said. “Once, the checkout guy at the grocery store recognized my style, and I thought, ‘Yes, I nailed it this time.’

Lacey shops at many area thrift stores for her creations, but she also shops at some websites as well.

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“I don’t spend hundreds of dollars on outfits, I go to thrift shops mostly.”

One thing Lacey said she appreciates about the style and the time periods is the pride people took in their looks then.

“They would dress up just to go to the grocery store,” she said. “I have been pointed at and laughed at, but why would I let someone ruin something I care so much about that makes me happy. I stopped caring what other people thought a long time ago.”

Lacey loves it when people point out and notice things from eras that most people don’t pay attention to anymore.

“I will be dressing up until the day I die,” she said. “I have noticed other decades and styles, but some I am just not as drawn to.

“In the ‘80s they revived a lot of the ‘20s style, But I don’t like the big hair or grunge look, and I am not that big on the hippie style either.”

Lacey’s styles stop right around the ‘60s.

“The ‘30s is hard to nail,” she said. “I have started to look into it and study it, oh, and the victorian era too.”

Lacey said while she likes certain eras she is not stuck in them.

“I am familiar with the ‘20s, ‘40s and ‘50s,” she said. “Maybe the reason I dress the way I do is that I can’t relate to fashion today.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

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“There isn’t much regional about it, near my senior year, I felt like I wanted to do something unique.”

Lacey said she is thankful to live in this era, with the technology and medical advances, but she loves the fashioned values of other times.

“Fashion is recycled, it goes around and comes around,” she said. “People don’t know my name, they know me as the girl who dresses up or the girl who wears hats.”

Lacey said she gets her style and inspiration from many different sources.

“Mrs. Fisher, the women from Peaky Blinders the last season, and photos and ads of the eras,” she said. “I look into music from Fats Waller, Rosa Henderson, Sippie Wallace, and silent movies from Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Larry Semon, Fatty Arbuckle and Al St. John, and Charlie Chaplin.”

Lacey keeps a fashion diary on her Facebook page so she can look back on her memories and creations.

“I love the obscure and almost raunchy humor of the flapper age,” she said.

“It seemed so misplaced and inappropriate, but essentially I believe that the flappers were just that — misplaced and inappropriate.”

Lacey said her tips to those interested in dressing up would be to buy cheap.

“Go to thrift stores, look at old pictures and try to recreate them,” she said.

“It is not about being an authentic 1920’s flapper, it is about inspired recreation.”

One person Lacey looks to for inspiration and items is Caleb Carpenter.

“He lives in the area and has studied the 1920’s since he was 17 years old,” she said. “He has 17 years of experience.

His Facebook page is Repeat the Past, he makes and sells authentic vintage headpieces. He uses antique materials and is accurate, he knows so much about the ‘20s — the ’20s are to him what the ’50s are to me.”

People may follow his Facebook page at Facebook.com/Repeatthepastbycaleb. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

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CONNECT ONLINE:

Go to ConnectionMO.Com/ParentingColumn to check out the latest from Meagan Ruffing online.

By Meagan Ruffing

Meagan Ruffing has been busy working on her 2021 bucket list.

Her biggest item to check off is graduation in August.

New Year, New Bucket List for 2021

A

few years ago, I wrote a book called, “I See You: Helping Moms Go from Overwhelmed to In Control.” One of the things I talk about in that book is the importance of making a bucket list. I think it helps put life in perspective when we have things we’re working towards and that get us excited about waking up every day. Continually adding to my bucket list and checking things off, has given me a new found appreciation for life. January is a great time to start your bucket list or pull out your old one and see how far you’ve come in doing all the things you’ve always wanted to do.

Your list may change from year to year and that’s okay. It might even change from month to month.

Things that used to be important to you to accomplish, may no longer seem appropriate for the stage of life you’re in. It’s a new year and that means it’s a new time to create something special inside of you. No matter your age, it’s never too late to start living.

Here are some tips to help get you started.

Parenting Column

B

– Begin somewhere. Whenever I bring up the idea of a bucket list, I get all different types of reactions. Some people laugh and tell me I’m too young to create a bucket list. Others tell me that they have one, too. And then there are those who get super excited about the idea of writing down their thoughts and dreams. Just start somewhere and see where it goes.

U

– Understand that you may not get everything accomplished on your bucket list and that’s okay. This is meant to be a framework or an outline of what you hope to accomplish over the next year.

C

– Continue to dream. Don’t be afraid to put the really big things on there. For example, I’ll be graduating at the end of this summer with not one, but two master’s degrees. One in clinical mental health and the other, in marriage and family therapy. Talk about a dream!

K

– Keep going even when it’s hard. If bucket lists were easy, everyone would be doing them. Write things down that you know you will accomplish and include things on there that you’ve only dreamed of doing. Maybe one of your items is to buy a house. Maybe it doesn’t happen this year, but you can take steps to make sure it happens next year.

E

– Enjoy the process! Bucket lists are supposed to be fun. Enjoy getting to your goals and making memories in the meantime. You’ll be amazed at how many new people you meet along the way.

T

– Take action. Things won’t happen on their own. You have to be the catalyst for change when it comes to checking things off your bucket list. It might not be easy, but I bet you’ll learn a lot in the process. With each step you take towards one of your goals, you’ll be that much closer to completing one. You might also realize that one of the things you put on your list isn’t something you really want to do anymore and that’s okay. One of the best things about working on my bucket list has been learning about myself.

I’ve included the worksheet from my book so you have something to get started with. I can’t wait to hear about all the things you’ve dreamt up.

Send me a message at meaganruffing @yahoo.com or on Facebook, at writermeaganruffing and I just might use your story in one of my next articles.

ConnectionMO.com/ParentingColumn | Connection Magazine | 17

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Cutest Kid

Congrats

JACE

Jace Roller is the 10-month-old son of Phillip and Deana Roller of Purdy.

Email your child’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and your contact information. The contest is open to children ages 10 and younger. The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

20 | January 2021

B

y Christmas time every year most people have decided what they will set for their New Year’s resolutions. Learn a new language, go back to school, go on a life-changing adventure, a new year begins with endless possibilities.

However, one resolution is made more commonly than others, “This year I want to lose weight.”

Whether the plan is to lose that pesky 10 pounds or a more significant body transformation, gym memberships and diet fads gain popularity quickly for those first few months of the year.

Two local women have recently embarked on a weight loss journey of their own and while the sisters started together, their adventures looked quite different from each other.

Amanda Boswell, owner and pho-

Story by Jordan Troutman

of two women

A weight loss journey

While Amanda Boswell and Brittany Bray have not quite hit their goal weights, throughout the year 2020 they have faced many challenges and found many successes in their weight loss journey.

tographer of Free Dove Photography, began her weight loss journey in February 2020.

“I’ve struggled with my weight since I was 8 years old,” she said. “I’ve yo-yo’d back and forth with my weight and spent my entire 20s attempting to lose weight once and for all to no avail.”

Amanda had tried diet pills, weight loss supplements, training, keto, Weight Watchers, and more.

“If there was something on the market that claimed it could help, I’ve tried it,” she said. “As you can imagine all I lost was my confidence, and after each attempt, I was left defeated and depressed.

“Everything seemed unattainable, unreachable or impossible. I couldn’t understand how these things could help other people be successful in their journey, but not for me.”

People may follow the two women and their weight loss journey at, @sleevin_sisters_2020 on Instagram.

Amanda’s health started declining and her weight began to rise even more.

“I started to feel an early onset of diabetic symptoms and knew I had to make a change,” she said. “I’ve been checked out by doctors to see if maybe my thyroid was acting up or perhaps I had PCOS and didn’t know it. I was trying to figure out why I couldn’t lose weight. No matter how strict I was, how much I killed myself in the gym — I wasn’t losing any weight.”

Doctor after doctor told Amanda to do low carb or keto diets because she is pre-diabetic, and almost every female in her family is diabetic.

“I lost 28 pounds doing keto, but I feel like you have to either be all in or don’t do keto at all,” Amanda said.

“I couldn’t even have a few bites of anything without setting myself back weeks, which just isn’t sustainable to me.”

She knew a low carb and sugar-free lifestyle was something she would need to adapt to for the rest of her life if she wanted to keep diabetes under control as best as she could.

“My sister and I were born four days apart and after we turned 31, we knew we had to walk into this new de-

cade — our 30s — a healthy one,” she said. “We both had our own reasons to lose the weight.

“We both have our own journeys, but we decided to embark on this journey together and hold each other accountable. We’re not blood sisters, but we’re best friends that have had each other’s back for over 15 years now.”

After confiding in each other as they always do, they decided to research weight-loss surgery options as a last resort.

“My mom had weight loss surgery (bypass), and was pretty successful with it,” she said. “I’ve known several other people who have gone that route as well.”

It wasn’t enough to just read statistics online, Amanda needed to read other people’s stories, follow their journeys, and really learn how to make this a way of life and not look to surgery as a quick fix.

“I used to be so skeptical of surgery.

Even when my mom had it done, I wasn’t on board with it,” she said. “I always thought, ‘If you couldn’t create healthy habits now, then what’s the point of surgery if you’re going to go back to your old ways?’

Boswell: ‘This journey is so much more than a number on a scale’

Before and after photos of Amanda Boswell and Brittany Bray show the amazing progress the two women have made side by side. They chose their weight loss journey to be healthier.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

“We’re all different.

Our bodies are different and they may react differently.

You have to change your mindset and keep going regardless of how you feel.”

-Amanda Boswell

“While that is so very important, there’s so much more to it than that.”

The duo really dove into social media and joined groups to learn all the things — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

“We started researching doctors and soon found out that we couldn’t afford to have this done here in the U.S. with our insurances,” Amanda said. “I wanted to get my weight under control before my health declined too much, and after experiencing several symptoms of diabetes in 2020 that’s what really pushed me to make a change.”

Amanda has four children and she wants to be around for them for the long haul without a slew of health issues holding her back.

“We started researching Mexico and really dove into reputable hospitals and doctors,” she said. “I’ve been to Mexico on more than one occasion, and I’m pretty familiar with the area and even know some great people that live down there.

“We called and spoke with many

22 | January 2021

doctors and emailed all sorts of questions back and forth.”

Amanda had a full page long list of questions.

“After we found a hospital and doctor that we loved, we took the necessary steps to schedule our surgery and our doctor said we were a great fit for Gastric Sleeve,” she said. “On February 20, 2020, we both had surgery and recovered together in the same room and started our Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) journey.

“Right off the bat, Britt’s journey was different than mine.”

The women had to learn how to eat slowly and really follow the doctor’s and nutritionist’s guidelines for when to add in new foods so their stomachs could heal.

“I did everything by the book,” Amanda said. “In my mind, this was my last attempt to get healthy, and I wanted to be sure I was doing every single thing right.”

She started walking 30 minutes a day, doctors orders, just four days after surgery, and really learned how to

eat all over again.

“Before surgery, I was never really ever full,” she said. “I could eat so much and still be hungry minutes later so for me, this surgery has helped me see food in a different way.”

Amanda healed quickly and didn’t have any complications after her surgery.

“It was a breeze as far as recovery and by day four I remember thinking, ‘Is this it?’” she said. “During the whole process, there was always that fear in the back of my mind that this isn’t going to work either.

“I’ll be honest, the mind games are still there, and it’s still a daily struggle sometimes.”

Amanda said you can get caught up in comparing your journey to someone else’s and lose sight of how far you’ve come, which is why she thinks that pictures are so important during a weight loss journey.

“Document your journey and take those before pictures,” she said. “We didn’t even look at our before pictures until after surgery when we started

Amanda Boswell is less than 30 pounds from her goal weight and has lost 75 total in less than a year.

Brittany Bray has experienced complications with her weight loss but has still lost more than 50 pounds in the last year.

comparing and seeing how far we’ve come. It can really light a fire inside you.”

Amanda encourages people to always remember, their journey won’t look like someone else’s and it shouldn’t.

“We’re all different,” she said. “Our bodies are different and they may react differently. You have to change your mindset and keep going regardless of how you feel.”

That’s probably Amanda’s biggest takeaway with making this a sustainable lifestyle.

“I may not always feel like eating super healthy,” she said. “I know I won’t always have the motivation to work out, but if I take that step and remember my goals and not how I feel, I know I’ll be successful.”

Amanda is still working toward reaching her goal weight and said the weight loss definitely slows down the further out from surgery that you get.

“I’ve lost 75 pounds since February 2020,” she said. “I’d like to hit the 1-0-0 pounds gone forever mark, but really, this journey is so much more than a number on a scale.

“I want to be in a healthy BMI range and just overall feel better. I’m so close to my goal and I know I’ll be there in no time.”

Amanda didn’t start working out until about seven months after her surgery.

“I didn’t feel like I consumed enough calories a day to sustain lifting and training so I listened to my body and used my best judgment,” she said. “Truth be told, I actually gained weight when I first started working out, which was a bit of a bummer at first but you have to give your body grace. Your body is adjusting and things take time.”

Story continued on page 43 ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

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Healthy Connection

By Bai Xiong

Eating Through a Pandemic

T

he hottest topics of the year seem to encompass the global 2019 Coronavirus Disease, or COVID-19 pandemic. Although this pandemic has affected many lives and had a significant impact on daily activities, do not let that stop you from eating a healthy diet. Continuously eating a healthy diet will help to boost your immune system and keep you healthy during this pandemic.

You can start improving your immune health by consuming micronutrients such as beta-carotene, VITAMIN C, VITAMIN D, and ZINC. All these nutrients occur naturally within the foods we eat on a daily basis. So where do we find each of these great immune-boosting goodies for our bodies?

BETA-CAROTENE, a precursor of VITAMIN A, is an antioxidant that is essential for normal growth and development, eye health, and maintaining a strong immune system. It can be found in many red, yellow, or orange fruits and vege-

tables. Great sources of beta-carotene can be found in plant foods such as sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, mango, broccoli and tomatoes, which are very common staples in the American diet.

egg yolks. Do not worry if you are not a big meat eater! You can also find it fortified in many enjoyable foods such as milk, cereals, breads, some brands of orange juice, and soy beverages.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is well known for supporting a healthy immune system by fighting off infections.

This vitamin does not naturally occur within the human body and therefore must be provided by our diet. Sources of Vitamin C can come from fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, green and red bell peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and kiwi.

Zinc is an essential mineral with many immune boosting benefits that naturally occur in some foods. Oysters have the highest amount of zinc per serving than any other food. Some other zinc containing foods consist of red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals and dairy products.

Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps maintain and build healthy strong bones and muscles. The benefits do not end there; vitamin D also plays a major role in immune health by fighting off bacteria and viruses. You can get good doses of Vitamin D through the sun, diet or supplements. Foods that naturally have Vitamin D are salmon, mackerel, beef liver, cheese, and

During the current pandemic we are diligently fighting, it is important we take care of our bodies to efficiently fight off infections and viruses.

Fueling our bodies with micronutrients that naturally occur within our diet such as betacarotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc is a great way to boost our immune system.

Bai Xiong is a Cox College dietetic intern who is currently working on her master’s degree in Nutrition Diagnostics. She is a Hmong American student from Newton, North Carolina. Bai is passionate about preventive health and plans to become a certified diabetes educator to help provide culturally appropriate nutrition education to ethnic minorities and allied health professionals.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25

Exercising Better with a Friend

W

ith the beginning of another new year, many people will be making commitments to exercising and making healthier choices in 2021. Like so many things in life, this is one task that is easier done with a friend or in a group. In 2017, NBC News reported that one study found that “95 percent of those who started a weight-loss program with friends completed the program, compared to a 76-percent completion rate for those who tackled the program alone. The friend group was also 42 percent more likely to maintain their weight loss.”

The CDC listed three benefits for exercising with a partner: (1) you’re likely to feel more motivated; (2) you’re likely to be more adventurous; and (3) you’re likely to be more consistent. They suggest that you find the right workout buddy, someone with

26 | January 2021

“the same goals, schedule, and commitment you have.”

Angie Hunter, a regular at the Monett YMCA, said that she doesn’t like to work out alone and almost always exercises with a friend. “There is a group of us who work out together, and although it isn’t every time, we can all show up. Often, two or three of us can, and that’s enough to enjoy a good workout and some socialization to go along with it.”

Having spent years working out with friends, Angie said that almost all of her workout buddies knew each other and decided to work out together while others “met in an exercise class like yoga and began working out together after that.”

Outside of spending time together in the gym or on the pickleball court, Hunter enjoys getting together with her friends for meals or shopping.

Another regular at the YMCA who

You’re likely to feel more motivated spends time outside of exercise classes with friends is Zumba instructor, Rendy Smith.

Rendy started teaching Zumba at the Monett YMCA in June 2009.

Shortly after obtaining her license to teach Zumba, she was regularly teaching classes. “I worked on a class playlist right after my training and jumped right in. Over the years, I’ve been trained in other fitness formats, they have come and gone, but Zumba is my one true fitness love.”

What drew Rendy to Zumba initially was that the YMCA recognized that it was a popular fitness trend and wanted to add it to their group exercise schedule. After trying a Zumba class at another gym, she was hooked.

“I instantly fell in love. I had a perma-grin the whole hour,” Smith said.

Rendy regularly teaches Zumba two nights per week at the YMCA and continued teaching via Zoom

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

You’re likely to be more adventurous

You’re likely to be more consistent during the widespread lockdowns from March to May. The experiences she had teaching online highlighted the importance of socialization in the exercise community. “I know how important it is to have routine, physical activity, and that social connection,” Rendy said. “When you are isolated from people and friends and your routine is turned upside down, it can have drastic effects. It was amazing to see their smiles, even if it was through the screen.”

It was not surprising that she took it upon herself to provide virtual classes for her students because she has spent years using Zumba as a way to build community, including participating in classes to benefit charities and performing at Monett’s Hispanic Heritage Festival with fellow instructor, Lupita Deleon. Her classes foster an environment that encourages more than just burning calories. “Oh, the ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

community and friendships that have been built over these last 11 years. I see friendships formed between people all the time—they celebrate birthdays together, they share pictures and stories of their kids or grandkids, they check on each other when one another is ill, they support each other’s weight loss victories, they support charities together, and they are there to lend a shoulder to cry on.”

Through teaching Zumba, Smith says that she has met some of her best friends, not only through classes locally, but also by meeting other instructors at Zumba conferences. She encourages people to seek out friendships when exercising because it provides a sense of accountability. Friends can encourage each other to show up and work out harder. They can celebrate victories. And they can check up on each other if someone has missed class.

“Group exercise is also a huge motivator. I know personally I am more motivated to attend a class with my 28 | January 2021

exercise friends than to work out on my own. I feed off of other’s energy in the room,” Smith said.

Through her experiences, Hunter agrees with Smith. “Something hard is easier to do when you do it with someone else,” Hunter said. “It helps take your mind off of the fact that it’s hard, and it certainly makes it way more fun.”

Rendy added another benefit to exercising in a group. When she’d first moved to the area 13 years ago, she didn’t know anyone and was struggling with depression. “I walked into the Monett YMCA because, in the past, group exercise had been my happy place. However, I had just left a large box gym in Kansas City, and while I was there no on talked to me, for nearly two years, even the instructors. While I was anticipating the same in Monett, I was met with the exact opposite.”

Some of the instructors and friends she met on her first day at the Monett YMCA continue to be her friends

today. As an instructor, she gets to watch the ladies in her class do the same for new people that walk in.

“They give them affirmation tips on where to stand to see better, tells them to come back, and that the classes get easier. I cannot stress how much that makes my heart happy,” Smith said. “This community of women make me proud every single class.”

The famous author Maya Angelou had this to say about friendship: “Friendship takes work. Finding friends, nurturing friendships, scheduling face time, it all takes a tremendous amount of work. But it’s worth it. If you put in the effort, you’ll see the rewards of positive friends who will make your life extraordinary.”

Her wise words can easily apply to finding friends through exercise. For anyone tackling a New Year’s resolution to get healthier, finding a friend or bringing one (or many) along on the journey, is great step toward success. n

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Beating COVID-fever and quarantine boredom

W

ith the numbers of COVID-19 taking another spike, many are suffering “COVID-fever,” similar to cabin fever, that comes with being quarantined for long periods of time, or repeatedly, due to multiple exposures.

Weighing in on how to stay grounded and focused in these unprecedented times are several mental health experts with Show Me Hope Missouri, a free resource for those feeling stressed, depressed or alone.

“I am a disaster mental health manager for Show Me Health, a state program with ideas and projects to help people during this time,” said Sara Johnson, of Clark Community Mental Health Center. “We are tasked with building community and individual resources to help build people resilience, and to learn of community resources to help people with their needs.”

That includes sourcing assistance for those unable to pay their bills,

30 | January 2021

Experts offer tips for staying grounded, focused in unprecedented times locate food pantries and even deliver groceries for those quarantined.

“As the pandemic rolls out, early research shows people are developing hostility, fear and uncertainty,” she said. “People are really struggling.”

Some of those who are confined to congregate care facilities, or those hospitalized in isolation units at area hospitals are suffering what experts call ‘isolation sickness.’ Anyone isolated for a long time may be missing their family or friends. We are trying to find ways to help them connect.”

Johnson has a team of individuals who work with her on the local level, Kelly Cochran, Linday Wheeler and Sondra Buckner.

“We try to keep our finger on those who are suffering significant loss,” Johnson said. “We are also focusing on those health care workers who have been enduring this for a long time, the people who are dedicated to helping others. And the pandemic is getting worse instead of better.”

Johnson and her team have researched those on the front lines of

Story by Melonie Roberts

Johnson and her team offer a plethora of suggestions on how people can focus on something other than COVID while they are in quarantine:

• Dust off the shelf, and dive into a book • Watch videos/TV shows/movies that make you laugh • Mail a letter/postcard to a friend • Donate old clothes to charity • Exercise…start small, 5-10 minutes/day • Walk your dog • Start a journal • Watch an interesting documentary • Research a foreign country and prep or plan a meal inspired by that country’s cuisine • Do some mindful coloring

World War II, and how they coped with the constant stress, as well as those who responded to the 9-11 crisis in New York City, the Pentagon and other targeted areas of the country.

“This is trauma,” she said. “People are afraid and they don’t even know they are. People are just trying to survive. As people, our sense of security has been damaged, and we are seeing some uncommon responses in return.

People are clinging to things that make them feel safe, that give them purpose and something to focus on.”

Johnson also said people are experiencing fried overload.

“There has been too much loss over a short period of time,” she said. “People can’t fully experience a single loss before being hit with the next.”

Some of the controversies surrounding COVID-19 include masking versus those who don’t believe in the benefits of masking.

“Everyone has feelings about it,” she said. “Strong ones. No matter what side of the issue they are on. In addition, anxiety and depression is spiking in the community. People are social animals. We can’t be alone for so long without some kind of support.”

This free program does not require a doctor’s diagnosis or referral. Services are free and confidential.

“We are also starting a program called Hope Rocks,” Johnson said.

“We are painting messages of hope and our helpline number and placing them along trails, in the park and oth-

er areas where they can be found. We have school kids writing Hope Notes, which will be delivered to the elderly in congregate care facilities.

“For January, we are going to focus on the Norwegian philosophy of living a Hygge Life.”

Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment. As a cultural category with its sets of associated practices, hygge has more or less the same meanings in Danish and Norwegian, but the notion is more central in Denmark than in Norway.

Examples of hygge include: spending quality time with friends and family; avoiding multi-tasking; removing stressors; leaving work at a reasonable time; wearing comfortable clothing; bringing the great outdoors indoors with plants; softening and simplifying your home with hygge decor; or designating a hygge nook. The essence of hygge is togetherness, relaxation, indulgence, presence, and comfort.

“January is one of the hardest months of the year for people to cope,” Johnson said. “With the essence of hygge, we want to teach people to connect to this idea of a simpler life and state of mind. We want people to create simple rituals to cope in January. Cuddle up with a good book, warm blanket and cup of hot tea; light candles on the fireplace and watch a movie and eat popcorn. Create small events to help celebrate winter.”

• Read/watch a biography about someone who inspires you.

• Do a digital detox • Watch cooking videos on YouTube • Mindfully enjoy a cup of tea • Listen to a podcast • Make a DIY face or hair mask • Make a list of new recipes to try • Explore new music • Reorganize or redecorate your living space • Do a puzzle • De-clutter • Find a new TV series to watch • Search Pinterest for craft or DIY projects • Draw/Paint - there is no wrong way to do it • Exercise to a workout app/video • Give yourself a manicure/pedicure • Listen to an audiobook • Research healthy snack ideas • Make a scrapbook of inspiring quotes • Go online to learn about a new language/culture • Look through old photos/videos • Learn origami • Learn how to play solitaire/minesweeper • Ask a friend to be your pen pal • Try baking your own bread • Do a word search/crossword puzzle/sudoku • Do a home improvement project you have been putting off • Sign up for free magazine subscriptions • Take a shot at writing poetry • Create a cookbook with your favorite recipes • Make a list of what you like about yourself, then read it • Take a shower/bath for the sole purpose of relaxing • Practice breathing exercises • Take a walk • Browse free virtual field trips • Take time to watch the sunrise/sunset • Call or text a friend you haven’t talked to in a while • Take time to pray/meditate • Limit your time on social media and watching the news • Download apps such as MyStrength-(free access code: cccommunity), COVID Coach or Dare.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

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For now, the pandemic is still at the forefront of the minds of many people, and learning to take care of one’s self is essential to surviving the long-term effects of quarantine and isolation.

“We all experienced a moment in March 2020, and we have not recovered from it yet,” Johnson said. “But there is another side to all of this. We are a resilient people. I have seen the most wonderful things and acts of altruism when walking through this community. You hear people’s hope and concern and see them reaching out to help their fellow man.”

The secret, Johnson said, is letting go.

“Don’t set your expectations too high,” she said. “Balance things. You are surviving. Make it workable for your family. Create a routine. And most importantly, take care of yourself and your body. Eat, drink and sleep. You have the right to take care of yourself.”

Those who feel they are in need of resources or some extra support during this time may call the Missouri Show Me Hope Helpline at 1-800-985-5990, or the Clark Community Mental Health Center at 417-235-6610, ext. 120. n

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Steve Diediker of Purdy and his daughter Mattie enjoy fishing at Monett’s South Park.

Your place to play Parks and green spaces may be the place to make New Year’s Resolutions a reality 34 | January 2021

I

t’s a new year and a new you, and COVID-19 concerns don’t have to put a damper on the high hopes you have to get healthy and get active.

Whether your plan is to pick up a new exercise routine, start running or just spend more time outside with friends and family, our park systems may be the answer you’re looking for and a means of making those New Year’s goals a reality.

With more than 100 acres of possibilities, the Monett City Park is home to year-round activities that are sure

to keep a body active and a mind healthy. If there’s a blanket of fresh snow on the ground, its rolling hills beckon you to break out the sleds.

When the spring sun starts to shine, a mile of trails with built-in exercise stations begin to call. And when the summer sun is beating down, a relaxing game of disk golf under the tall shade trees might just be the best way to spend the day.

And, thanks to the sprawling grounds, all these activities can accommodate social distancing and lower the risk exposure to COVID-19

Story by Mike Gervais | Photos by Melonie Roberts and Murray Bishoff

while also getting your blood pumping and fresh air flowing.

Monett’s South Park, located at the intersection of Highway 37 and Highway 60, is 65 acres of green space designed for play. It is home to a stocked fishing pond for disabled anglers and children 15 and under, one mile of walking, jogging and biking trails, four soccer fields, four tennis courts, a basketball court and a playground.

So if you’re looking for a little solitude and a chance to stretch your legs, or if you want the competition of a pickup basketball or tennis game.

This is the place to go.

North Park is a 35-acre park with opportunities for all ages. Features include seven baseball/softball diamonds, tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court, a skate park and a playground.

All these opportunities of healthy activity are the culmination of years of work on the part of a community partnership between the City of Monett and Healthy Schools-Healthy Communities.

Through the partnership, the community has been able to re-think and revamp a number of resources at the park, including upgrading the run/ walk trail and exercise equipment and the 18-hold disk golf course, all of which are getting alot of attention since COVID lockdowns began in early 2020.

“Since March 2020, when a lot of businesses closed, we took some precautions as far as the play equipment at the park, “Monett City Administrator Dennis Pyle said. “Some equipment wasn’t available, but in May we re-opened and we’ve seen a big increase in usage at the park.

Back in March, April and May, it was really the only way people could get out, exercise and recreate.”

It’s easy to get out and have fun year-round thanks to our wonderful area parks. Gabby Jimenez braves the cold to take advantage of south park’s trails and get some exercise.

South park is a hub for activity come snow or sunshine. Even when the weather is cold, people like Allison, Truman and Graham Heider, of Monett, enjoy the weather in the park.

Shawn Hayden, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Missouri Southwest Initiative to Change Health, an organization that took over after the Healthy Schools-Healthy Communities Initiative ran its course, said people have a unique opportunity to begin or to continue living a healthy lifestyle, free of charge, despite COVID-related restrictions many are facing.

“There are four or five workout stations on the trail for things like pullups, dips and stretching,” Shawn said.

“It’s kind of nice to do whatever bodyweight exercises are there while you’re outside.

“I know that most gym facilities are taking all the necessary precautions, but I would personally much rather workout outside, so that’s a great resource.”

If just being outside and stretching your legs is more your pace, the park’s disk golf course is a must as it offers 18 holes spread across the 65 acres of south park.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

“It’s a very, very popular addition to the park, and people are using it all the time,” Shawn said.

He added that he’s heard of some local employees playing nine holes during their lunch breaks, and even a league expressing an interest in hosting a tournament here.

Another newer feature that has found an eager audience among the older generation is the addition of pickle ball courts. As pickleball has gained so much traction, thanks to its low-impact, high-energy style of play, the city has resurfaced and re-striped two of the park’s tennis courts to create four pickleball courts.

Pickleball is similar to tennis, with a few elements from badminton and table tennis thrown in. The two- to four-player game is played on a court similar to a tennis court, but with a ball similar to a whiffle ball.

“It’s been getting really popular, especially with older people,” Dennis said. “I think it’s a lot easier on the joints, but you still get the exercise and movement like tennis.”

And for those who want to stay a little closer to home, but still want to get outside, Dennis said the city is home to 10-plus miles of paved walking paths throughout the city.

The Greenway Trails system, he explained, is a safe surface that can take walkers and joggers through much of Monett.

So even though the gym life may not be for everyone in a postCOVID world, we are still lucky to have a huge array of activities and opportunities to keep us healthy and moving heading into 2021 and beyond at a cost that is extremely affordable. n 36 | January 2021

City fur babies need a place to play Monett moving forward with plans for dog park

While concrete and asphalt can be tough on a pup’s paws, the proposed Monett Dog Park will have walking paths that are a little easier on the pads.

Monett’s Mary Dutton and her pups Sophie and Nacho will probably be happier for it.

Monett’s Meghan Gains plays with Ella in the Monett Park.

Hopefully, in the coming months, Ella will have a park and play equipment of her own.

A

lot of our four-legged fur babies are not lucky enough to have a 10-acre farm to run on. We have farmers and city people, and we have farm dogs and city dogs and those city dogs need their exercise as well as people do. People who want a place for their pups to play outside in public have an exciting opportunity to make that happen this year.

Monett Main Street has developed a plan and is moving forward to give our city fur babies a place to exercise, run and animal socialize (probably not six feet apart) with a dog park in downtown Monett. Getting out and about for people and their furry family members on a beautiful green grassy setting.

This is something that bigger cities have had for quite sometime to accommodate those that wanted a dog but lived in apartments. Of course owners and the fur babies have to be responsible and will have rules to follow, but the end result will be worth it to give the dogs an area to play, maybe socialize a bit and learn a few manners.

The Monett Dog Park will be a one-acre, fenced area with a shade structure, walking paths, separate areas for large and small breeds and play features.

The plan to build a dog park will complement the downtown area and bring more spaces to Monett’s social hub. Once constructed adjacent to the downtown park and events pavilion, between Fifth and Sixth streets, local pups will have a place all their own with a doggie playgrounds, doggie drinking fountains and even a paw-friendly walking path.

Fundraising efforts have included some individual donations, totaling approximately $25,000, which included a sizable donation from All About Pets and Monett Veterinary Hospital.

To break ground on the the one- acre pooch park and recreation area the group needs to raise $75,000. Some upcoming plans are underway for some efforts to raise some doggy dough such as a 5K dog jog this April. All of the proceeds from the “Dog Jog” will go towards the construction cost. The minds behind the fundraising effort have received a number of donations to give away as prizes for the jog.

Suggestions have been rolling in on how to supplement the event with more creative canine activities. One

idea being considered is a beautiful or ugly pet contest.

Monett City Administrator Dennis Pyle said the plan is to see pups playing in the park by late 2021 or early 2022.

The dog park has been designed by architect Richard Werner and will feature two separate areas, one for larger dogs and one for smaller breeds. Dennis also said a shade structure that will house doggie drinking fountains and taller ones for their two-legged friends, is being designed to match the Downtown park pavilion next door.

“The pavilion will be a miniature one compared to the Jerry Hall Memorial Pavilion,” Monett Main Street Board member Thad Hood said.

In addition to green space for the dogs to run and play, the park will also have specially designed canine play features.

And because concrete and asphalt can be tough on puppy paws, the dog park will also include a special walking path, donated by HHR Construction, LLC. The paths were originally incorporated into the design of the park, but,

due to budget constraints, were being considered for removal. Thad said he decided to donate the paths to ensure they could be included for the pups.

And to keep the park clean, doggie waste stations with trash cans and baggies have also been incorporated into the design. Thad said community members will be responsible for cleaning up after themselves and their pets.

To help make the Monett Dog Park a reality, everyone is invited to come out to April’s dog jog, or to simply donate to help reach the $75,000 goal.

To make a donation, contact Hood at 417-737-9461 or Pyle at 417-2353355, Ext. 2401.

Checks should be payable to Monett Main Street/Dog Park fund and may be mailed to Monett Main Street, Attn: Dennis Pyle, 217 5th St. Monett, MO 65708.

Monett Main Street is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37

Cutest Pet Patsy and Jasper are the fur babies of Luke Casady and Lana Steele of Fairview.

Patsy & Jasper

If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest.

Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

Email your pet’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com 38 | January 2021

Rescued, My Favorite Breed

By Christa Stout

After adoption: What’s next?

I

t is 5 a.m. and I am sitting down to write this column, with only a half cup of coffee in me and eyes that don’t want to stay open. Polly has kept me semi awake since 3 a.m., thinking she should be fed already, Coco is grumpy because Polly is bumping into her and Rudi is the only happy go lucky one – he just came in from having a blast, rolling in the snow!

And speaking of snow, I love the snow, but this year, where is SPRING? I can’t wait for sunshine and flowers and seeing all of my dogs snoozing in the sun. There is a reason for my attitude change, Polly, my blind lab, has a much easier time going outside, smelling everything and making her way back when the sun is shining and the ground is dry. But, this too shall pass, so on with writing about New Year’s Resolutions! I sure hope you will join me in this.

I would like all of us dog and cat owners to make a resolution to improve the lives of our pets. That means annual vet visits, it means rabies shots, heartworm preventive and flea and tick meds for the dogs. It also means the kitties should get annual vet visits, rabies

shots, heartworm preventive and flea and tick meds for cats. If you have both a cat and a dog, please do not share these medicines, because it could be fatal for the animal as they require very different ingredients.

And if you have a new puppy, don’t forget the puppy shots.

Parvo and other puppy diseases are still prevalent and it tears at your heart watching a puppy suffer through any of these diseases and most likely die from them.

Kittens have their own illnesses, such as feline parvovirus and feline panleukopenia. All of these are preventable with puppy/kitten shots.

this is part of what makes up the adoption fee. And all animals have their age-appropriate shots and preventive medicines before adoption. That makes the adoption fee much more palatable because you don’t have to have additional expense right away.

When adopting a cat, I would like to include “please do not declaw your cat.” It is extremely painful to the cat and leaves them totally helpless should they manage to sneak out of your house (believe me, it happens). Get them a scratching post and train them to use that instead of your furniture, and you will both be much happier.

REMINDER: Just because there is snow on the ground and it is freezing outside, doesn’t mean there aren’t some persistent fleas and ticks still out there, please continue flea and tick preventive throughout the winter months.

And the most important thing is spaying and neutering our animals. Most pets, when you get them from reputable shelters and rescues are spayed and neutered before they are adoptable, so

I know this sounds like a lot of expenses but fortunately, keeping a pet healthy is much cheaper than treating a sick dog and I know this is something most pet owners do not want to experience.

ConnectionMO.com/RescuedMyFavoriteBreed | Connection Magazine | 39

Thankfully, there are periodic shot clinics, spay and neuter clinics, etc. that are put on by the Joplin Humane Society, Stray Animals Matter (for cats) and other shelters and rescues.

These clinics are discounted dramatically and should be affordable for all pet owners. Remember, if you live in a town or city, there may be ordinances that require you to provide some of these preventives as well as spay/neuter for your pet.

Facebook is a good place to look for some of these discounted services, the Monett Animal Control Officer and I as well as many rescues, usually share any upcoming clinics that we become aware of.

40 | January 2021

It’s been a busy month for me and I didn’t make it to any area rescues, so here are some sweet dogs that are available at the Monett Pound:

LOLA, a lovely female Walker hound, is very sweet and looking for a large yard. Lola loves kids and other dogs and is great with cats. A terrific addition to any family.

BEE, a male pitbull mix, is very active and would love to go hiking or running. He loves other dogs and a buddy is a must. Bee is too large for small kids, but big kids watch out, he loves to snuggle after a run!

CALLIE, a wonderful female hound mix, is fun loving, loves kids, dogs and cats. Callie is a very active girl who would love to have an active family.

Recipes

Cheese Soup with Broccoli

Chicken Taco Soup for Two

Fabulous Roasted Cauliflower Soup

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Toppings: ½ cup tortilla chips ½ avocado, sliced ¼ cup shredded Oaxaca cheese, or to taste 2 tablespoons sour cream

DIRECTIONS

1 onion, chopped 6 tablespoons margarine ⅓ cup all-purpose flour salt and pepper to taste 4 cups milk 3 cups chicken broth 1 carrot, shredded 1 cup broccoli florets ½ cup chopped celery 1 pound processed cheese food, cubed

1. In a large saucepan on medium high heat, saute the onions in the butter or margarine until tender. Add the flour and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until smooth. Add the milk slowly, until mixture is thick and bubbling.

2. In a smaller saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil.

Add the carrot, celery, and broccoli. Cook about 5 minutes, or until tender. Combine the broth mixture with the milk mixture and stir until fully blended.

3. Add the cheese. Allow soup to heat over medium heat until cheese is melted.

Important: DO NOT let the soup boil because the cheese will separate and curdle the soup. Serve hot and enjoy!

2 teaspoons olive oil ¼ cup chopped onion 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, divided ½ (14 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, with juice 1 cup chicken broth ⅓ cup frozen corn 1 (5 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced on the diagonal

DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning. Cook until onions are soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes with juice, chicken broth, and corn.

2. Sprinkle remaining taco seasoning over chicken pieces and add to soup. Stir to combine, cover, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, avocado slices, Oaxaca cheese, and sour cream.

2 heads cauliflower, separated into florets 3 cloves garlic, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cups chicken broth 1 cup water 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon dried thyme 2 cups heavy cream salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). In a large bowl, toss cauliflower pieces with olive oil, garlic and shallots.

Spread out in a roasting pan or baking sheet with sides.

2. Roast in the preheated oven until toasted and tender, about 30 minutes.

3. When the cauliflower is done, transfer to a soup pot and pour in the chicken broth and water.

Season with thyme and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf.

4. Puree the soup in the pot using an immersion blender, or transfer to a blender and puree in batches, then return to the pot. Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper. Heat through before serving but do not boil.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41

5. Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer’s instructions for 10 minutes. Release remaining pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer’s instructions, about 5 minutes more.

Unlock and remove the lid.

Instant Pot® Spicy Beef Curry Stew

Instant Pot Keto Hamburger Soup

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil 2 pounds cubed beef stew meat salt and ground black pepper to taste 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root 4 tablespoons curry powder 2 cups beef broth 1 (28 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes 3 carrots, sliced 1 large onion, sliced

DIRECTIONS 1. Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function.

Pour in olive oil and heat until sizzling; add meat and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

2. Transfer meat to a plate, reserving juices in the pot. Add jalapenos, garlic, and ginger to the pot. Cook and stir until tender, about 2 minutes. Season with curry powder.

3. Pour 1/2 of the beef broth into the pot; scrape brown bits from the bottom of the pot using a wooden spoon. Return meat to the pot with remaining beef broth, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and onion.

Close and lock the lid.

4. Select high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions and set timer for 35 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.

42 | January 2021

Cheesy Potato Soup INGREDIENTS

6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 ½ cups chopped onions 1 ½ cups chopped celery 4 cups water 8 potatoes, peeled and cubed 15 slices American cheese - broken into pieces 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 ⅓ cups milk 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS 1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onions and celery in the butter for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender.

2. Stir in the water and potatoes, bring to a boil and then simmer until the potatoes are tender. Add the cheese and stir until melted.

3. In a separate small bowl, combine the flour and the milk and stir well until the flour is mostly dissolved. Pour this into the soup slowly, stirring constantly, until soup has thickened, about 5 minutes. Garnish with the parsley.

2 tablespoons butter 2 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped ½ cup diced onion 8 ounces pork sausage 8 ounces lean ground beef 1 cup water ½ cup fire-roasted diced tomatoes 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard 1 cup heavy whipping cream ½ (8 ounce) package grated sharp Cheddar cheese ½ (4 ounce) package cream cheese 2 teaspoons Montreal steak seasoning (such as McCormick®) ½ teaspoon dried minced garlic ½ teaspoon dried savory

DIRECTIONS 1. Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add butter and cook bacon and onion for 1 to 3 minutes. Add sausage and ground beef. Cook and stir to break up meat until crumbly and browned throughout, 5 to 7 minutes more.

2. Add water, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.

Add cream, Cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. Stir until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes more. Add steak seasoning, garlic, and savory; stir to combine.

Story continued from page 23

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Amanda did walk constantly during those first seven months after surgery though.

“I was able to go hiking and really get out there and do more active things with my family,” she said. “If the scale becomes something that lets you down, I suggest storing it away for a while so you’re not focused on it.”

While Amanda does plan on maintaining her loss, she will have to put everything she has learned into practice.

“We’re human, we’re not going to be perfect 100 percent of the time,” she said. “I give myself grace and get right back on track if I eat something I know I shouldn’t.

I don’t deprive myself, but I don’t binge eat as I used to.

“For me, the key was to recognize your old habits and why you had them.”

Amanda doesn’t recommend surgery for everyone.

“You really need to understand the process and be prepared for the mental struggles that come along with it,” she said. “Surgery won’t help you if you don’t change your bad habits.

“Sadly people think surgery is the easy way out or a quick fix and that it won’t require any form of change in their lifestyle — that’s just not going to help you. You have to put in the work daily to get where you want to be, it’s just simply a tool and when it’s in the right hands, it can help you.”

Brittany Bray, a resident of Pea Ridge, Ark., began her weight loss adventure on the same day, with the same surgery as Amanda.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43

“I have been overweight my entire life,” she said. “I have struggled with weight loss for more than 20 years.

I have tried multiple diets, multiple prescriptions, tons of workouts and nothing seemed to work.”

After a medical mystery in 2018, Brittany decided that enough was enough and she wanted to take back her life, but she knew she needed help.

“I had the VSG, in Tijuana, Mexico, on February 20, 2020,” she said.

“After the surgery, the way you eat and drink were the biggest changes.

“It wasn’t easy at all. I had complications, but not from the surgery — it was flawless, but I couldn’t keep food or liquids down, and I hurt so much.”

Brittany is actually still struggling with this issue, but she is seeing a specialist and is very hopeful for some good news. “I have two special-needs boys so my health has been my number one reason behind everything,” she said. “I need to make sure I am healthy so my boys can have me around for longer.”

When starting a journey like this, old habits are sometimes the hardest things to overcome.

“When I am depressed, stressed or bored, I eat and eat and eat, I mean doesn’t everyone, but I was way worse, I couldn’t stop and I just wanted to eat more,” she said.

“Surgery doesn’t fix the depressed, stressed or bored feelings, but I have tried to make smarter choices by selecting protein bars, sugar-free options and all-around healthier options. I still indulge, but I now know my limits.”

For Brittany, the best part of the journey was sharing it with her best friend — her sister, Amanda.

“It made the bond we share even stronger,” she said. “We push each 44 | January 2021

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other to be better and get on to each other when we do bad. Having her by my side has made it worth it.”

The majority of the stresses have come from the complications she has had with keeping food down — and she doesn’t know why it is happening.

“One of the most memorable moments would have to be hitting 199 pounds,” Brittany said. “I haven’t been under 200 pounds in over 20 years. It was the best day ever. I cried.” Right now, Brittany is at 195 pounds.

“That is a total loss of 53 pounds,” she said. “My goal is to weigh 165 to 170 pounds.

“I plan to keep to a low carb diet, but I can’t really plan on how to maintain the weight loss until I get to my goal weight.”

While Brittany agrees that her journey has been a lifestyle change, she wants to make it clear that surgery is not an answer but rather a tool.

“You have to continue to make it work and keep at it, it just gives you an extra boost,” she said. “I believe I am on the right path, I am able to play with my boys more, go on vacations, and I am now able to walk and have fun.”

Brittany said although she and Amanda’s journey has been together, it’s been totally different.

“We have been very opened on our Instagram page about the differences,” she said. “We believe it has truly helped others by letting them know how it’s to have struggles and to know that they are not alone if they are experiencing the same things that we are.

“I would do this surgery all over, even after all the struggles and complications it has made me appreciate a lot of things that I took for granted.” n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 45

Pastor Ray

I

A Ray of Light at Tyson Foods, Monett

n 1969, Tyson Foods acquired the chicken processing plant in Monett. Since that time, Tyson Foods has maintained operations that employs 5,700 team members today. John Tyson, former chairman and founder of Tyson Foods, said, “From the beginning, our company has been built on faith, family, and hard work.

That tradition, our core values, and ‘doing what’s right’ are deeply embedded in our culture.”

Like other Tyson plants, the Monett location strives to follow these core values. One person who helps them achieve their goals is Pastor Raymond Haught.

Hired as a chaplain, Pastor Ray has seminary training including a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling also from Luther Rice University.

For the past four years, Pastor Ray has been on staff at Tyson using his ministerial skills to meet the team members’ needs. Before working at Tyson, Pastor Ray spent 10 years in the military as a heavy equipment operator. After being discharged, he worked in concrete construction and as grounds maintenance foreman/heavy equipment operator at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

His career change into ministry happened in 1996. “I was mentored by a Southern Baptist minister who had pastored for 50 plus years, and he felt I had the necessary qualifications to be a pastor,” Haught said. “He talked me into taking over the church he was pastoring and I was attending. I have been what

46 | January 2021

is known as a bi-vocational pastor ever since.”

Haught explains that his career path changed when his mother became ill.

“She ended up on hospice, and using my degree and my pastoral experience, I went to work as a Chaplain for the hospice company that cared for my mother. I worked with Crossroads Hospice of Kansas City for three years before coming to Tyson.”

The experiences Haught had working as a physical laborer and ministering in various areas prepared him for his eventual job at Tyson Foods. “My mission is to provide a compassionate presence and spiritual care/ministry to Tyson Team Members and their families while respecting the diversity of all,” he explained.

Specifically, Pastor Ray assists team members with life problems and situations. He said that sometimes these may become a source of distraction that can affect their safety on the job or may contribute to them missing work for various reasons, but they are ready to assist team members regardless of how it may or may not affect the company. “I provide resources to team members for housing, transportation,

food, and utilities,” Haught said. “I assist team members dealing with grief from the loss of a loved one by attending funerals and offering counseling. I have provided counseling and referrals to team members who are struggling with addiction, depression, or other types of illnesses.”

In the community, Pastor Ray is active with the Monett Ministerial Alliance and other charitable organizations. Through these connections he can further assist Tyson team members.

A current project he’s involved with is working toward providing additional childcare resources to shift workers in the area.

When driving past the large Monett facility, it’s difficult to grasp all the roles people play within those walls. Pastor Ray has been a ray of light to team members as he stands alongside them in their most difficult times and seeks resources to provide for their needs.

“I love my job,” Haught said. “I enjoy working with my fellow team members to assist them when life throws them a curveball. I also enjoy the support I receive from our management team, who recognize the value of having a chaplain on staff.” n

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

A community Thanksgiving feast was prepared by volunteers with the Tom Wolfe Memorial VFW Post No. 4207 in Monett on Nov. 26.

Pictured are some of the volunteers and guests attending.

Familiar Faces

1 1

2 2

4

3 3 The annual Cassville Christmas Parade was held on Dec. 6 on Main Street in Cassville.

4

5

1. Trevor Prewitt, Kalie Pendergraft, Aryia Pendergraft, Stacy Pendergraft and James Pendergraft 2. Hudia Cox, Aaron Cox, Emma Cox and Jessica Cox 3. Eric Greek, Spencer Greek, Layne Greek, Avery Greek and Tracy House 4. Michael Glover, Braylin Glover and Trach Glover 5. Madison Yockey, Melissa Speagle and Colton Yockey

5 1. From left: Lennie Slagle, Jason Blevins and Leo Blevins 2. Seated, from left: Kerry Schilling and Jennifer Indovina Standing, from left: Julianna Indovina, Aiden Indovina and David Schilling 3. Rocky and Debbie Gaston 4. Caroline Hinshaw and Randy Adams 5. Michael Coy

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47

Verona Christmas Parade

2

1

3

5 4 Decatur Lodge No. 400, AF&AM, in Pierce City organized the annual Thanksgiving Pilgrims Run 5K/1 mile fundraiser for the Food for Thought backpack program at the Pierce City schools, held Thanksgiving Day.

48 | January 2021

1. Brandon, Clayton, 12, Ella, 8, and James, 4, Clark.

2. Brittany Rice, Artimus Rice, 3, Michael Rice and Timothy Taylor, 10.

3. Sarah Wilken and Hailey Jane.

4. Wayne Pinkley, Jerry Pinkley, Kolton Pinkley and Johnathan Tarkington.

5. Dexter and Rhonda Car.

1

2

3

1. Krystal Madrid, Adrianna and Tara Reyes 2. Connie and Jarrod Jarvis 3. Lisa, Kevin and Lori McNeill 4. Mandy McMahan, Holly Burn 5. Erin Flehmer, Bodie, Cade and Brock Flehmer 6. Justin and Samantha Hoffmann

4

1

2

6 3

5

4

7

6

Monett Christmas Parade 1. Madie Olson, 11, Miles Sullivan, 5, and Tara Sullivan.

2. Gracie Warren, 10, Christy Warren, 8, and Tina Warren.

3. Amy Simmons, Katherine Simmons and Jordan Thompson.

4. Josh Wignall, Tiffany Wignall, Rhys Wignall, 6, and Tearnie Wignall, 10.

5. Chief Daoud and Officer Salazar.

6. Darlene Jenkins and Hudson Jenkins, 3.

7. Maya Silvers, Cheyene Silvers and Chloe Carpenter.

5 ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 49

Parting Shot

Photo by Tamara Harding, Branson, Mo.

‘Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.�

-Edith Sitwell

50 | January 2021

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52 | January 2021